More From McCullers

Friday

Jun 28, 2013 at 12:01 AMJun 28, 2013 at 12:11 PM

At this time last season, the Crew was 6-6-4 and was yet to see Federico Higuain or Jairo Arrieta suit up for a match. An expensive offseason has brought the Crew a 5-6-5 record so far this year, but president and general manager Mark McCullers said this year's version is playing better soccer.

"Every season seems to have its quirks and nuances," he told me yesterday in a sit-down interview at Crew Stadium. "This year is a little different because I do think that we've been playing attractive soccer. We have played a game that has the potential to be very successful. I think at this point in time last year we were not playing an attractive brand of soccer. I'm surprised, and like everybody else I'm disappointed that we're not in (at least) second."

At this time last season, the Crew was 6-6-4 and was yet to see Federico Higuain or Jairo Arrieta suit up for a match. An expensive offseason has brought the Crew a 5-6-5 record so far this year, but president and general manager Mark McCullers said this year’s version is playing better soccer.

“Every season seems to have its quirks and nuances,” he told me yesterday in a sit-down interview at Crew Stadium. “This year is a little different because I do think that we’ve been playing attractive soccer. We have played a game that has the potential to be very successful. I think at this point in time last year we were not playing an attractive brand of soccer. I’m surprised, and like everybody else I’m disappointed that we’re not in (at least) second.”

Through 16 games, last season’s team was averaging a goal per 11.7 shots (17 goals, 199 shots). This year it’s a goal per 11.9 shots with 19 goals in 226 shots. But despite the team’s offensive struggles despite generating a number of chances, it was upgrading the Crew’s defense that was the top priority in the offseason.

After allowing two rapid-fire goals in last weekend’s loss to Chicago, McCullers said the team’s porousness on defense has been surprising.

“It still comes back to defense, and I think that we’re just not good enough defensively,” he said. “We’re giving up inopportune goals. To be honest with you, having guys unmarked in the box that should not be unmarked in the box is maddening to me. I look at that and that’s why I go back to lack of concentration, awareness, focus, whatever you want to call it. That’s not just on the defensive line. The central midfield is part of that. The outside players are part of that. I’m not trying to pin it on the defensive unit, per se, but we’ve got to be sharper.

“I’m surprised that we’re not better defensively and that we’re still giving up what I would consider to be some soft goals and some elementary mistakes in front of our goal.”

Here are some other highlights from our conversation:

*McCullers does not see forward Jairo Arrieta as a part of the team he would consider moving.

“I like a lot of the things that Jairo brings when he’s on the field,” he said. “Obviously I’d like for him to have more goals, and I know that he would too. The way he battles and creates opportunity, he does some things that are valuable in us maintaining possession and being dangerous. He hasn’t had a chance to really gel and find his form with us. It’s tough when you’re going back and forth to the national team. That’s another one where given time, he’s got goals in him. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. I’m looking forward to him unleashing them in the proper time.”

After scoring nine goals in 18 games last season, Arrieta has one in 11 appearances this season while splitting time with the Costa Rican national team.

*McCullers lauded defender Chad Marshall for what has mostly been a bounce-back season following an injury-riddled and self-described subpar 2012 season.

“I think he’s been impressive this year, and I think that his approach, the way he came into camp, it seemed like he had a presence,” he said. “I would even go so far as to say that it’s different than in past years. I think he’s an important factor for this team, and in particular now that Gláuber has gone down. Chad is somebody that makes us a different team when he’s in. you saw it a little bit at Montreal. When he came back into the lineup, and I would add Danny (O’Rourke) to that and Josh (Williams) to that, it gave us a lift. There’s just a sense of confidence when Chad is in the lineup that makes us better.”

*It sounds like the Crew is hoping to have an announcement on the concrete progress of Goal 10K to coincide with Crew Stadium hosting the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier Sept. 10.

*When I asked if a winning product would help in the Crew’s off-field goals, McCullers questioned my choice of words.

“We have a winning product,” he said. “We have a winning reputation. In this community, if you get outside of a slice of our core fanbase, we absolutely are perceived as a winning organization with a winning record. We’re No. 4 in Major League Soccer in championships won. We’ve made the playoffs four out of the last five years. Have we done what we wanted to do in the playoffs? No. Did we miss the playoffs last year? Yes. But the perception of this organization by the vast majority of people in this community is that we win and are successful. That is the product perception.”

I clarified my question, asking if the team’s 2-3-3 record had an effect on trying to sell more tickets and attract a naming-rights partner for Crew Stadium.

“No, I don’t think that it’s had an impact,” he said.

*The deadline to waive players with non-guaranteed contracts is Monday, and although McCullers said the Crew will continue to assess its situation it is unlikely that the team will part ways with anyone by the deadline. The Crew would have to waive several players to clear enough room to make any kind of significant move, McCullers said, and most players without guaranteed contracts are lower on the salary rung.

*McCullers is bullish on Ben Speas’ future.

“On the wings, Speas, at the beginning of the year I thought Ben was the best player on the field in several games,” he said. “He had a bit of a setback with an injury but I think he’s certainly capable.”

ajardy@dispatch.com

@AdamJardy

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